Transfer Day in East London

Transfer Day began at the church at 6:30 in the morning.  Elder and Sister Thomas had picked up the rental van the evening before.  The Elders arrived on time and we made it to the airport with no problems and checked in without a hitch even with the new baggage requirements for the carry on luggage.  We dropped off the Elders who were flying to Cape Town at the airport.  You can see Sister Thomas moving to give Elder Martey a “Hand Hug” as they leave to go through security. 

Prior to the picking up the Elders arriving from PE on the bus, we had to drop by the British Travel Clinic in order for Elder Dean to get his last Rabies Shot. That is Elders Radebe, Dean and Richards with Sister Thomas with Elder Dean holding his arm.

The bus arriving from Port Elizabeth was two hours late because of a flat tyre on its trailer.  We waited there as long as we could then called the EL Zone leaders to wait for the incoming Elders.  We had to go back to the church to pick up the Elders that needed to be shuttled to the bus station to depart to Port Elizabeth.  Unfortunately, the incoming and outgoing Elders were at different bus stations.  After we dropped off those traveling on the buses to Port Elizabeth and then George, we went to pick up the 6 Elders who had finally arrived at the other bus station. We dropped them off at the church and went to the airport to pick up the 10 Elders coming in from Cape Town.

When we arrived back at the Church, there was a joyous reunion as Elders saw missionaries that they knew and as new companions met.  It is surprising how many Elders need to be there because walking Elders need rides to the Church from those that have cars and others are waiting as threesomes so a missionary can pick up his new companion.

Sister Thomas and I feel fortunate to see, feel and be part of the oneness that existing between the missionaries in a mission.   You can see Sister Thomas leaning on the van enjoying the “oneness” of the missionaries.  This is a blessing that we will take away from our mission and we hope to cross paths with these missionaries in the future. Time will only tell.